Aircraft observation window



Juiy 15 1924,

V. E. CLARK AIRCRAFT OBSERVATION WINDOW filed Oct. 26. 1921 IQM Invnlnr .Afiurney FIHMSEc/w-K exact description.

Patented July 15, 1924.

STATES; ATENT OFFICE.

'VIRGINIUS E. CLARK, OF DAYTON, 'OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 DAYTON-,WRIGH'I' comm OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIRCRAFT OBSERVATION WInnow.

Application filed ootoher 26, 1921. Serial No. 510,549.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGINIUS E. CLARK,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery,

. and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aircraft Observation Windows (Docket #39), of which the following is a full, clear, and

This invention relates to aircraft and has as an object the provision of means for in-' creasing the visibility from airplanes by placing a transparent section in the part of the wing .which interferes with the vision.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferredform of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an airplane showing the window in the center section of up er plane. p

i 2 is a side elevation of the airplane but rowing the upper wing in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a modification wherein the window is positioned substantially flush with the bottom surface of the wing.

1 Fig. 4 shows another modification having the window substantially flush with the top surface of the wing.

In the drawing, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 5 represents the body or fuselage of the airplane shown in the drawing which is of the side by side typeand thereforeis quite wide relative to its other dimensions.

'6 is the landing chassis, 7 the propeller, 8

the empennage, 9 the. lower plane, 10 the center section of the upper plane, and 11 and 12 the right and left wings of the upper plane. The front and roan spars of the center section 10 are shown at-14 and 13 retion between the front and rear spars thereof and hence does not interfere with the strength of the upper plane. The window may extend any desired len h along the upper plane but preferably it is extended. -to the full width of the fuselage in this side by side plane in order that both pilot and passenger may "up above the win the top plane.

The transparent window 15 is preferably made of non-shatterable glass, there being one or more panes de endent on the size of the window, but if able transparent material as\hard celluloid.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the glass is suitably mounted in a 'wooden frame about midway of the thick stantially flush with the bottom of thawing quite small immed ately adjacent the top of the wing.

In Fig. 4 the glass is shown mounted substantially flush with the top surface of the wing section, this modification causin only avery small decrease in aerodynamic efii ciency according to wind tunnel tests.

If desired the window may have the glass mounted at both the top and bottom of the section in order to prevent loss of aerodynamic efficiency. i

The window may be hinged, preferably on the sides so that the air blast will not seriously afiect the operation thereof, so that in case of emergency the pilot may throw open the window and jump from the top of the wing with a parachute.

VVhile I have illustrated my .invention as a plied to a biplane it is to be understood I t at it is also applicable to a monoplane and the'window may be placed at any point in the wings other than in the center section.

While the forms of mechanism herein shown and described,constitutes preferred forms of embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the. claims which follow.

WhatI claim is as follows:

have vision upwards through esired any other suitmay be used such and is comparatively 1. An airplane wing having upper and lower cambered surfaces spaced apart giv- .110

tween the planes of ing the win an eppreeiable thickness, and hevin an o servation openingcut through both it ie upper and lower cambered surfaces, and a trans arent window for closing said opening, said window being positioned be- V the upper and lower cambered surfaces.

' 2. An airplane wing heving upper and lower cambered surfaces spaced apart giving the wing an appreciable thickness, and having an observation opening out through both the upper and lower oam'bered surfaces, end

a transparent window for closing said opening, said window being positioned between the planes of the'upper and lower calnbered surfaces, but nearer the. plane of the upper surface.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

V. E. CLARK.

Witnesses K. LEE, L. H. Ermron. 

